Dozier Thornton

Area

Posted: Thursday, April 11, 2002

HAPPY - Dozier Thornton, 78, died Wednesday, April 10, 2002.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Paul Burwash, pastor, Bob Miller, pastor of South Georgia Baptist Church in Amarillo, and Rick Bloodworth, minister of Happy Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in Happy Cemetery by Holley Funeral Home of Canyon.

Mr. Thornton was born May 15, 1923, in Joplin, to Oscar Heath Thornton and Verna Mae Hayse. He married Betty Jane Welch on Sept. 11, 1945, in Seymour. The past 47 years they lived and farmed in the Happy community.

He was a deacon at First Baptist Church of Happy. He served in the Navy armed guard during World War II. His favorite hobby was playing "42" with friends and family along with reading, hunting and fishing.

Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Leonida Cleveland of Amarillo, Lana Beth Stevenson of Canyon and Megayla O'Rear of Azle; a brother, Jack Thornton of Tulia; two sisters, Ludie Martin of Malakoff and Ned Gilbreath of Yantis; four grandchildren, Jim Stevenson of Clarendon, Tommy Stevenson of Friona, Sam Stevenson of Canadian and Kristie Cleveland of Austin; and two great-grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials be to BSA Hospice of Amarillo and First Baptist Church of Happy.

Visitation will be from 8:30 a.m. until service time on Friday at the church.